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The Victorian government has confirmed that it will contribute $1 million towards establishing the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Melbourne should Labor be elected in May.
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Melbourne will be home to an international-standard artificial intelligence centre, pending a formal agreement with the next federal government. The Victorian Labor government will contribute $1 million towards establishing the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Melbourne, and welcomed federal Labor’s promise to establish the centre if elected.
The new centre will build on Victoria’s national leadership in technology, with Victorian universities producing about 37 per cent of Australia’s tech graduates – more than any other state.
Worldwide expenditure on AI systems is forecast to reach US$77.6 billion a year by 2022. According to a recent AI Group report, artificial intelligence is also changing the skills that employers want, with skills shortages in big data and machine learning.
Victorian Treasurer and Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas said, "The Andrews labor government is ready to partner with the next federal government because Melbourne is the natural home to a national centre for artificial intelligence."
The state’s $1 million investment to the proposed centre would help identify and establish a location for the new national centre, bringing together a mix of world-leading businesses, start-ups and tertiary institutions.
Already, inner Melbourne is attracting a cluster of digital businesses, including Seek, carsales.com.au, MYOB, Tesla and Uber. According to a recent AI Group report, artificial intelligence is also changing the skills that employers want, with skills shortages in big data and machine learning.
Martin Pakula, Victorian Minister for Innovation reinforced, the Treasurer's comments, saying, "Artificial intelligence is becoming the defining technology that is changing the way business is done, from autonomous vehicles and healthcare robots to the latest agriculture technology."
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
